Often online links are moved or broken. If so, please contact us and in the meantime, we recommend searching “Native American flute” with the keywords below to find the information you need…
World Flute Society, the premier organization for indigenous/world flutes, headed by Dr. Kathleen Joyce-Grendahl, has affordable membership and features a quarterly publication (digital and print versions), quarterly flute raffle, annual convention, songbook of world music, CD downloads, educational information, suggested reading, links to flute festivals, schools and gatherings, and a directory of flute circles, flute makers, instructors and world events… and much more. The WFS was formerly known as The International Native American Flute Association (INAFA).
Flute Tree Foundation, studies and promotes indigenous instruments from cultures around the world, focuses on education, and features Fibonacci Song Mapping (making up songs using the numbers or the letters in your name), an extensive songbook for 5-hole, 6-hole, diatonic and rim blown flutes (with customized flute maker fingering options), an easy to use Song Convertor tool for notating your music, excellent articles on purchasing a flute and flute care, plus many other helpful resources.
Flutopedia, a Comprehensive Native American Flute Encyclopedia by Clint Goss, includes everything — and I mean everything — you would ever want to know about the Native American flute… its anatomy, cultural history and evolution, crafting, care and maintenance, playing techniques, etc. Also related are links to FluteCast Instructional Videos on YouTube, Native Flute School annual facilitator’s workshop, Clint & Vera’s Native Flute Handbook, Playing Modes on the Native American Flute by R. Iván Iriarte, and Poetry for the Native American Flute.
Music for People: weekend or week long improvisation workshops for everyone — discover your inner musician, no prior musical experience necessary. The Bill of Musical Rights sets the tone for self-expression, acceptance, authenticity, exploration, and discovery in a safe environment. MFP asks that everyone just show up and trust the process. For a deeper commitment, the Musicianship Leadership Program is available.
Backing Tracks
Search online for backing tracks, backing tracks for native american flute, karaoke songs, or native american drumming, etc. Try using your F#-minor flute to sample “Spirit of the Drums” YouTube video.
Play at home with rhythm tracks that fit any flute tuning with Stephen DeRuby’s Rhythms to Accompany the Native Flute CD, for purchase, which is a standard for Native American-style flute.
Clint Goss Native American Flute Jam Tracks CDs are available in the most popular flute keys to help you feel like a professional performer but without the stage fright. Also available are USB Jam Tracks in All Keys. In addition, Flute circles may enjoy the Playshop Groove Tracks.
Jonny Lipford Music Backing Tracks: contemporary instrumental music tracks in every key, ambient pads for all keys, tribal rhythms for any key, and new age tracks for standard tuning and 432Hz tuning. There are also songs with backing tracks and accompanying sheet music for performers.
Jan Michael Looking Wolf backing tracks, come in the most popular keys. (As a side note, Jan Michael Looking Wolf’s FREE Fun Flute Tips! are short video lessons worth exploring to help expand your playing techniques.)
Several YouTube and bandcamp Channels have FREE play-along tracks. Award winning Tommy Graven has a playlist with a variety of styles and shows compatible scale fingering charts; My Darn Jam Tracks and Fuzzville each have an extensive list. Soul, Old School & Funky Tracks, is a collection with easy to improvise chord changes found on bandcamp. Gary Moore style Minor Blues Backing Tracks is a wonderful easy jam along in a set of all 12 keys, also on bandcamp.
On Spotify, Background Music for the Native American Flute by Jeff Perry features a contemporary New Age sound and nature sounds for when you want to relax/chill and practice your long tones. Tom Bailey Backing Tracks Full Collection is a huge resource with various styles in various keys, also on Spotify (search for the Canyon Wind selection, especially suitable for Native American Flute).
Additional backing track CDs you may want to explore: HEARTBEAT by Perkins & Green – Fifteen 3-minute rhythm tracks using authentic Native American percussion instruments, great for when you are playing traditional Native American songs, and ACCOMPANIMENT by Laughing Crow for performance – tracks for F#m and Am flutes, or any key with the four rhythm tracks, plus C didgeridoo accompaniment.
You could adapt any drumming CD or New Age/Healing music CD to use as backing track music; just experiment finding a flute key that works. Use the Am flute relative major scale for Ultimate OM by Jonathan Goldman, an hour-long track (start in the middle) great for long tones and meditative melodies. Have fun with Jim Donovan World Rhythm Seeds Vol 1 & 2 featuring repetitive rhythm patterns for practice or try his “The Yoga of Drum and Chant” for a meditative groove. James Asher Shaman Drums works well with Native flute as does Scott Fitzgerald Thunder Drums. These are just suggestions from our flute circle collection. You could try playing along with professional Native American Flute CDs and improvise in between the melody or play drone or harmony, a great way to train your ear and work on breath control.
Christmas Songbooks
Ten Tunes for Christmas to play on Your Native American Style Flute, solos arranged by Judy Robinson.
Native American Style Flute Christmas Songs and Duets selected and arranged by Ami Sarasvati.
Christmas Hymns & Carols section of the Flute Tree Foundation Contemporary Minor Key Native American Flute Songbook.
Listen/Record
Kunaki is a manufacturing-publishing-distributing-fulfilling-shipping company that can help you upload and publish your own music CD.
Listen to award winning music and download music for free at Native American Music Awards (NAMA) or hear live stream contemporary or traditional pow wow music at the Native Radio Music Library.
Online Tools
Try the World Time Buddy (WTB), an easy to use online time converter and clock to find out when your national or international event begins in your time zone. This is a handy reference for Virtual Flute Circles, Workshops, Classes, Online Meetings, Virtual Concerts and other Events. It is also helpful when you are traveling.
For a simple beat reference try the Online Metronome at the Online Tone Generator web site. The default is set at 120 bpm, the marching band beat (think John Philip Sousa, the march king, and, in your head, hear “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” our official national march. Most popular songs today are in the 100-140 bpm range, from a walking pace to moderate-moderate/quick tempo to a bit quicker. Extending the range, 76-168 bpm, will give you lowest walking pace through highest sweet spot for the heart.
Retail
The Oregon Flute Store has a varied selection of protective Flute Cases, and at your local sporting goods store you will find that the sturdy and affordable BassProShops RangeMaxx Case is ideal for carrying up to a dozen mid-range to smaller flutes providing protective padding and insulation.
[If you carry flutes on commercial flights, check out Flying With Flutes FluteCast video and print out the regulations sheet to carry in your flute bag from Flutopedia’s Carry Native American Flutes On Commercial Flights.
Unusual instruments can be fun. Songbird Ocarina makes ceramic Eagle Bone Flute replicas and ceramic flutes with pentatonic tuning.